Absorbing the culture shock of moving, early in his high school years, from New Jersey to Bartlesville, Ward honed himself into one of the best boys swimmers in a decade at Bartlesville.

The senior swimmer capped off an amazing 2013-14 campaign by capturing the Class 6A state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke — one of just four Bruins during the past several years to win an individual state gold medal.

In addition, he placed sixth in the 200-yard individual medley and helped power the Bruins’ 200-yard freestyle relay team to state silver and the 200-yard medley relay quartet to third place.

Ward’s pool odyssey began less than a decade ago when his mother encouraged him and younger brother Kyle — who also seized a gold medal in the state meet and is his archery partner — to take lessons.

"My mom just wanted us to know how to swim," he explained.

Ward — who participated in the gambit of youth sports, including basketball, soccer and baseball — felt an affinity for being in the water.

"It always kind of felt natural to me," he explained.

As he progressed in youth swimming, Ward began focusing on his training and his times started dropping.

He also gravitated toward the breaststroke as his event of preference.

"I was really happy with my time and how I performed the entire season with the breaststroke," he explained.

In fact, during the regular season, Ward proved to be untouchable in the event. He carved out the state’s best time of :59.43 — the next closest was Tulsa Union’s Colton Posey, at 1:02.1.

But, in the state preliminary race, Posey knocked a full two seconds off his time, bolting through the event in 1:00.09, while Ward turned in a prelim time of :59.31.

It was obvious the pair were headed for a major showdown in the state final, on Feb. 22, at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center.

"We’ve raced the last two years and been pretty even," said Ward, adding he knew his hardest race of the season would be in the state final against Posey.

"If knew if I gave it my all I could do it," Ward said.

It wasn’t until toward the end of the day — in event 20 out of 22 — Ward and Posey dropped into the pool for the bloodless battle for state supremacy in the breaststroke. Six other racers joined them — including Edmond North’s Duncan Garrett, who would turn in his best race of the year.

At the end of the first split, Duncan led the back. He had about a quarter-seconds lead on Posey and a half-second advantage on Ward, who was in third place.

Between the first and second split, Ward turned up his jets and surged into first place. He reached the second split in :30.48, followed next by Posey (:30.96).

Ward touched the wall at :58.46, just a third-of-a-second ahead of Posey (:58.76). Duncan rounded out the top three (:59.74).

"He (Posey) gave me a really good run for my money," said Ward, who still deciding between two college scholarship opportunities.

Meanwhile, Ward doesn’t regret the opportunity to transfer to Bartlesville, despite the change of scenery.

"I really didn’t know much about Oklahoma when I got here," he said. "I was really happy with how things are in Bartlesville. We’re very lucky for the things we get from Phillips. Over the past two years swimming has become bigger in Bartlesville. We’ve gotten to where people know who we are in school."

But, despite’s Ward’s sense of adventure and acceptance of his new environs, it helped to have a familiar face nearby, in brother Kyle.

"He and I are really good training partners," Ward said. "In practice, we’re always in the same lane and we push each other to try hard and we support each other all the way."

And, that mutual reliance extends far beyond the pool deck.

The Ward boys also enjoy traveling to an open spot on their rural property and launching arrows.

"Kyle and I shoot traditional bows, with no sights on them," Ward explained. "Every time you hit the target you know it’s more on skills than sights."

When it comes to his pool skills, Ward is grateful for the mentorship of Jeff Allen — who coached Ward in both the Phillips 66 Splash Club and Bartlesville High School team — and assistant coach Ben Harlow.

"They’ve been a huge influence on me," Ward said. "Ever since I’ve been here, I’m thankful Jeff and Ben have supported me."

Ward also is thankful for the example of former Splash Club/Bartlesville swimming great Colton Krause, a two-time individual state champion who graduated in 2013.

"I learned from him if you put your mind into it you can get it," Ward said.

Although he’s called Bartlesville home for only a couple of years, Ward said after he leaves to go to college he’ll miss the community and the support it has given the swimming program.

A few years ago, Ward had never heard of Bartlesville.

But, local swimming fans will remember him for a long, long time.

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